Van Dyke Law, LLC’s Connecticut and Massachusetts playground equipment accident lawyer has handled numerous injury claims arising out of playground accidents involving children.
As parents we try hard to protect our children from any hidden dangers through meticulous research and overly cautious steps. However, sometimes our efforts fail and our children are subjected to unanticipated hazards such as rusted playground equipment. We cannot keep our children in a bubble, but we can make sure that those people responsible for our children’s injuries are held accountable for their actions.
Playground Equipment Injuries
Many studies were done regarding the safety of playground equipment during the late 1990s and early 2000s. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 1999, over 200,000 playground equipment-related injuries were treated in hospital emergency rooms throughout the United States. The majority of injuries occurred to children between the ages of 5 and 14, although many also occurred to children under the age of 5. This number of injuries related to a rate of 7.5 injuries per 10,000 people in the United States.
The vast majority of injuries occurred on public playground sets. This is especially troubling given that most parents routinely take their children to public parks assuming that the playground equipment is kept in working order.
The most commonly reported injuries were fractures, mainly occurring to the wrist, lower arm, and elbow. The majority of injuries were also the result of falls from playground equipment that was not located over protective surfacing. While playground deaths are rare, the majority of fatalities related to playground equipment occurred as the result of ropes and other items tangled with the playground equipment, leading to hanging deaths.
Despite safety upgrades to playground equipment over the last decade, playground equipment accidents remain high each year even. Even 20 years after the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission study, the numbers of playground accident injuries remain around 200,000. However, the number of serious injuries has decreased as playground equipment is more conscious of hard surfaces and prepares better for falls. However, if your child has received an injury as the result of the unsafe conditions in a playground set, you should be entitled to seek damages for their injuries.
Van Dyke Law, LLC’s Connecticut and Massachusetts Personal Injury Attorney
While some playground equipment accidents are not the result of anything the property owner did to create an unsafe environment, many accidents are the result of negligent behavior in failing to upkeep the playground equipment. Public parks are especially at risk for injuries if they do not take the necessary precautions to ensure their equipment is safe for children of all ages. If your child has been injured on playground equipment, do not hesitate to contact Van Dyke Law, LLC’s Connecticut and Massachusetts playground equipment accident lawyer. Our attorney is well experienced in handling injury claims and will work tirelessly to ensure you receive the amount of compensation you deserve. Contact our West Hartford, Glastonbury, or Enfield office today for your initial free consultation.